To be honest, I was devastated by the sentiments expressed by an overwhelming number of people post-9/11. I couldn't believe these were the same people who earlier were preaching against a coercive State and claimed to be promoters of Liberty.
The word "fascist" kept coming to mind as the cheers for "lock up anyone who disagrees with Bush" got louder.
I've come to believe that the vast majority of people here use FR to let off steam ... and they like to hear themselves sound "patriotic." I've also discovered that many here who call themselves conservative really are nothing of the sort. They are neo-conservatives.
As far as America being too far gone to be salvaged, I believe you are right. Garet Garrett thought it was too far gone over fifty years ago. And things have only gotten worse since then:
There are those who have never ceased to say very earnestly, "Something is going to happen to the American form of government if we don't watch out." These were the innocent disarmers. Their trust was in words. They had forgotten their Aristotle. More than 2,000 years ago he wrote of what can happen within the form, when "one thing takes the place of another, so that the ancient laws will remain, while the power will be in the hands of those who have brought about revolution in the state."
Worse outwitted were those who kept trying to make sense of the New Deal from the point of view of all that was implicit in the American scheme, charging it therefore with contradiction, fallacy, economic ignorance, and general incompetence to govern.
But it could not be so embarrassed and all that line was wasted, because, in the first place, it never intended to make that kind of sense, and secondly, it took off from nothing that was implicit in the American scheme. It took off from a revolutionary base. The design was European. Regarded from the point of view of revolutionary technic it made perfect sense. Its meaning was revolutionary and it had no other. For what it meant to do it was from the beginning consistent in principle, resourceful, intelligent, masterly in workmanship, and it made not one mistake.
The test came in the first one hundred days...
Great post and link. You may be aware that I have spoken out against our immigration "free for all" since coming to the FR about fours ago. Since then, a few on the FR attempted to distract and divert what I, and a few others were saying by using works like nazi and racist etc.
It was an attempt to put a stick through the spokes of the topic and issue, to paint those who spoke out in a very bad light.
Yes, I and a few others have vented steam regarding this titanic issue, but I believe it did some good, as now, those nasty, ugly accusation have all receded and almost disappeared. I believe this venting of steam and debate on this most dangerous issue caused many to become aware and see beyond the smoke and distractions.
However, as we all talk, vent steam and debate these issues, the ever reaching arm of socialist, big government, monster, like the immigration "free for all" will eventually consume our freedoms, our sovereignty, and our entire nation.
I felt (and feel) exactly the same way. I concluded, sadly, that the only difference between them and the liberals they railed against was the ends, not the means. It showed to me what a truly tiny portion of the population really cares or believes in the idea of the power of the individual and the right of the individual to be free.
We are not free, and we are becoming less free as time passes. Our freedom is an illusion, kept in place both externally, by the government/media, and internally by the small prosperity of the masses making them reluctant to rock the boat.
I suppose the main reason I stay here is that it is a good source for news that is hard to get otherwise. It's sort of like being able to watch the Titanic go down without having to actually be on board.
Tuor